Ten members of the banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (Huji) were sentenced to death by a Dhaka court today in a case filed over bomb blasts at a CPB rally in 2001.

Among the death row convicts, Mufti Mainuddin Sheikh, Arif Hassan Sumon, Maulana Sabbir Ahmed and Maulana Shawkat Osman are currently behind bars while Mufti Abdul Hai, Shafiqur Rahman, Jahangir Alam Badar, Md Nur Islam, Mohibul Muttakin and Anisul Mursalin have been absconding.

The court also acquitted two accused -- Md Moshiur Rahman and Rafiqul Alam Miraj -- as allegations brought against them were not proven. 

Police taking one of the accused to a Dhaka court before announcement of verdict in a case filed over bomb blasts at a CPB rally in 2001. The photo is taken on Monday, January 20, 2020. Photo: STAR

Judge Md Robiul Alam of the Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court of Dhaka announced the verdict. 

Huji chief Mufti Hannan was hanged for grenade attack on British High Commissioner in Sylhet earlier.

Five people were killed and 50 others injured following the bomb attack at a rally of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) in the capital's Paltan Maidan on January 20, 2001.

Later, the then CPB president Monzurul Ahsan Khan filed a case with Paltan Police Station accusing unidentified people in connection with the incident.

Investigation Officer CID Inspector Mrinal Kanti Saha submitted two charge sheets to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka on November 27 of 2013.

One was filed for killing five people and injuring 50 others while another was filed under the Explosive Substances Act.

During the trial, the court recorded statements of 46 prosecution witnesses including complainant of the case.

On December 1 last year, the court set the date after conclusion of arguments from the prosecution and the defence.

Trial of the case filed under the Explosive Substances Act is still on at the same court.

COURT'S OBSERVATION

The court in its observation said that the convicts committed the murders to disrupt the democracy in the country and wipe out the pro-liberation forces.

The court also reflected that no one has the right to commit such heinous acts in the name of religion.

WITNESS’ REACTION

A witness of the 2001 bomb attack at the rally of CPB, AKM Sohel Ahmed, said that he was satisfied with the verdict.

Sohel, president of Bangladesh Khet Majur Samity, was one of the speakers at the programme on day of the incident.

However, he wished the judgment came earlier.

DEFENSE

Defense lawyer, Faruk Ahmed, following the verdict said that the defendants will appeal to the higher court.